Improvement in hydraulic engines



l E. WEST.Y

. A HYDRAULIC ENGINE.

No.'176,822. Patented May 2,1876.

Hill

"",UNrTEn STATES PATENT OEFIoE.

ELrsHA WEST, 0E LooKPoET, NEW YORK.

IMPRovEME'NT |N HvoRAuLlc ENGINES.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 176,822, dated May 2, 1876; application filed March 30, 1876.

To all whom t may concern: Beit known that I, ELISHA WEST, of Loek port, in the county of Niagara and State ot' New York, have invented certain Improve" in the use of a valve having its bearing-faces narrower than the ports of the cylinder, so as to admit the Water-pressure to both sides of the piston at the end of the stroke, as hereinafter fully described and explained.

In the use of hydraulic enginesV as ordinarily constructed, great annoyance is experienced from the hammering or ramming ofthe water at the end of each stroke, and from the great friction upon the valve during the time ot its most rapid movementthe first-mentioned difculty resulting from the sudden `andentire closing of the ports, and the consequent sudden stoppage of \the advancing 4 water While in rapid motion, and the second resulting from the momentum of the water, the full force of which is received directly upon the valve when the ports are suddenly closed, as usual.

By my improvement, which consists simply in the combination `of wide ports and narrower valve-faces, I momentarily admit or apply the water-pressure to both sides ot' the piston at the same time, thus equalizing the pressure on the opposite sides ot' the piston,

and also opening one exhaust before closing the other, so that there is always a communication between the inlet and the exhaust port, and, consequently, a continuous flow of Water through the engine, theresult of which is, that there is no sudden or entire stoppage of the Water, no concussion, and, consequently, no excessive pressure upon the valve. The

improvement is applicable to engines having valves sliding on a fiat face', as in the draW- ings, and also to those moving in the arc of a circle.

Figure l represents a longitudinal central section of' my improved engine, with the pi'ston at one end of its stroke; Fig. 2, a similar view` With the piston at the middle of its stroke.

A represents the cylinder; B, the reciproeating piston therein 5 C, the valve-chest; D, the slide-valve; E E, the induction-ports, and F the eduction-port, all ofv which parts are constructed and arranged as usual, except that the ports are made of increased Width, and the bearing or cut-off faces a ofthe valve made of a Width less than that of the induction-ports, so that when the faces of the valve stand over the middle of the ports there Will be spaces or openings b on both sides of each face, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the Water can pass t'rom the chest under both ends of the valve directly to the outlet and to both sides of the piston, thus momentarily equalizing the pressure on the opposite sides of the piston, and on the upper and under sides of the valve.

It is obvious that the form and arrange ment of the parts, and the manner of driving the valve, may be varied as desired Without departing from the limits of my invention, provided the Wide ports and narrower valvefaces are retained.

What I claim as my invention isl.f'1he combination, in a reciprocating engine, of the ports E E and the slide-valve D,

having its faces a a of a width less than that of said ports.

2. The combination of the cylinder A, containing the piston B, and provided with the ports E E and F, and the slide-valve D, having its faces a. narrower than the ports E, suhstantially as shown'.

3. In -a reciprocating engine, a slide-valve constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, to admit the actuating fluid at the end of each stroke to both sides ot' the piston, as and for the purposes described.

4. In a reciprocating hydraulic engine, the combination, substantially as shown and described, of induction and eduction ports, and a slide-valve Which permits a continuous oW of Water through the engine, from the inlet to the exhaust, for the purpose of preventing concussion.

ELISHA WEST. Witnesses:4

C'rms. G. DE LUDE, NORMAN O. ALLEN. 

